Posted on 08/26/2014 1:46:19 PM PDT by Red Badger
Windowless planes could be the future of cheaper air travel as a government technology centre develops a proposal to help airlines save on fuel.
In place of windows, plastic display screens projecting the sky outside could line the cabin of an aircraft.
It is hoped the technology will significantly reduce aircraft weight and cut fuel costs without worrying nervous passengers.
The display screens will function using a technique called printable electronics, which involves the use of conductive inks to carry electric current in cardboard and plastic for just a few pence per unit.
The technology could be rolled out in other key industries. For example, in pharmacuticals, so-called 'smart packaging' could be used to remind a patient to take their medication.
However, developers at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) in Sedgefield, which is one of the government's network of technology centres known as Catapults, are particularly excited by the benefits printable electronics offer to aviation.
Tom Taylor, who is part of the management team at CPI in County Durham, told The Financial Times: "Getting weight out of a plane is a key [goal] for the industry.
"You could see the first of these coming to market in three to four years."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
They would save weight and design complexity with no windows, plus that’s another thing that cannot fail and suck out the air and/or passengers.
As for the psychological effect, if anyone complains, they can switch to a standard, normal looking aircraft interior with windows or just turn it off.
Some joker would eventually ‘hack’ the system and put on a porno movie.................
..........or porno..................
Well, really, if the plane freezes up,
all you have to do is turn it off and on again!
I can see some practical joker putting on a video of another jet liner coming in for a collision...........................
How about roller coaster footage?
“Headed”?? It reached that stage some years ago.
What flight deck. The big savings is going to be no flight crew, just a computer or two or three. Flight crew will be somewhere on the ground flying the drone you are in.
Well that’ll go over real swell ....
I see you fly SouthWest.
I’ve flown over 200 times, but last week was the first time that I’ve flown (US Air) where most every single window shade was closed. I was in an aisle seat and I found it annoying and unsettling (maybe claustrophobic?). I like the screen idea.
Horsefeathers.
No airline is going to put that few seats in its aircraft, nor will it support the expense of multiple cameras and displays.
Only one 360 degree camera needed. Displays can now be as thin as sheet metal and lighter. No wiring needed since they can all be linked with wi-fi....................
I’m sure you actually believe that.
Except in reality it wouldn’t function most of the flight, and the seats would be pressed together like sardines, and everyone would be puking the whole time.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Airlines need to save weight that costs money. Windows are unnecessary for flight...............
Dramamine...............
Seats are unnecessary for flight.
Toilets are unnecessary for flight.
Skymall magazines are unnecessary for flight.
Food is unnecessary for flight.
Water is unnecessary for flight.
Stewardesses are unnecessary for flight.
Pilots are unnecessary for flight.
Cameras and video displays are unnecessary for flight.
Thank you for choosing Red Badger Air.
THAT I'll agree with.......................
Interesting!
Flying military hops in the Air Force, we had webbed seats, very few windows but it got us where we needed to be. (K - C 135 refueling tankers)
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